Electric-arc lamp



(No'ModeL) W. L. SILVEY.

ELEGTRIG ARC LAMP. No. 398,907. Patented M21125, 1889.

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\VILLIAM I.. SILVEY, (3F LIMA, OHIO.

ELECTRIC-ARC LAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 398,907, dated March 5,1889. Application filed July 23, 1888. Serial No. 230,744. (No model.)

v To (LZZ whom it may concern:

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Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. SILVEY, a resident of Lima, in the countyof Allen and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Electric-Arc Lamps, of which the following is aspecification.

My improvements relate to a monophotal arc lamp in which the top orpositive carbon is made to descend by a step-by-step mo tion until ithas come in contact with the bottom carbon, at which time the negativeor bottom carbon is drawn downward, thereby establishing the are betweenthem. It is to be understood that this downward feed of the positivecarbon and rod is not accomplished directly by the main or arc-givingcircuit, but is accomplished by a branch line or derived circuit whosetwo terminal wires are attached to the ingoing and outgoing wires of themain circuit. It is further to be understood that this lamp is intendedmainly for multiple-arc circuits or lines in which a constantelectromotive force of about one hundred to one hundred and ten volts ismaintained.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a perspectiveview,'partly in section, of my complete lamp. Fig. 2 is a side view,partly in section, of the mechanism which feeds the positive carbondownward; and Fig. 3 is a rear view of the escapeinentwheel andcarbon-rod.

The side rods, H H, and base-1i late l. are

insulated from each other, so that the current which goes to thepositive carbon cannot become shortcircuited, but mustgo to the carbonpoints first. the lamp enters at wire, and passes-thence to thebase-plate L, where it divides between two circuits. The positive ormain-line current passes down the positive rod E and positive carbon Ito the are, returning by the negative carbon .l to the solenoid-magnetB, thence to the insulated wire A, which passes up through the hollowside rod and escapes by negative wire A. As soon as thepositive andnegative carbons touch, the main-line circuit is closed and the currentis free to fl ow. This current energizes the solenoid-magnet 3 and drawsthe core R downward into it, thereby establishing the arc. Underneaththis core is a coil-spring, 7*, whose otfice is to raise the negaf lum.top part of the standard V, and has a iail'piece The current whichsupplies tive carbon upward, thereby offering a yielding surface, sothat the carbons will not come into firm contact at any time.

The feeding of the positive carbon downward is accomplished as follows:The feeding or positive solenoid-magnet C receives its current directlyin proportion to the resistance of the arc circuit. In case the carbonsare separated this magnet will receive the entire force of the current,because it is then in direct circuit. In this case the current enters atthe positive circuit, thence by small shunt wire 0 it passes to thesolenoid-magnet C through which it circulates and escapes to the 11egative side of the lamp over small terminal wire 0. As soon as thecurrent energizes the solenoid suiiiciently the conicalpointed core P isdrawn downward against the action of the spring 1). This spring may begiven more or less tension by screwing up or down the regulating-screwQ. In this way the feed of the lamp is adjusted to currents of differentelectro-motive force. The square carbon-rod E is geared into the smallpinion F, and this small pinion is secured to a small ratchet-wheel, G,and geared to the larger wheel, D,b v a pawl and spring (I. This pawland spring allows the carbon-rod to be pushed up for putting in newcarbons, but prevents it from descending, exceptby the st p-by-stepmotion of the fingered escapenieut. This escapenienii is somewhatsimilar to that used in clocks, &c., having an cscapcmcnt and pendu- Thecscapemeut is pivoted near the or pendulum, 11. This pendulum serves adouble purposc--tmc is to act as a balance against the action of thecarbon-rod E to prevent too rapid a descent, and also to act as anattachment to a round stud, o. The stud 0 serves to regulate the actionof the escapement. As soon as the current in the solenoid C becomessufficiently strong to draw the cone pointed core P- downward, thusovercoming the action of the spring 1), the escapement is released andthe pendulum n begins to oscillate. At each oscillation of the pendulumthe verge 12 allows the wheel D to turn one tooth at a time in itsdescent. The rod I maybe placed in any position desired, and as soon assufficient current has been turned on the gradual descent of the rodbegins. The solenoid, by drawing the pointed core downward, releases theescapement, which immediately begins to operate, and continues until thepositive rod has descended until the carbon points come into contact,when the main circuit is closed through the carbon points I J, and thesolenoid-magnet B draws the core R downward, thus establishing the are.As the carbons are consumed, the resistance of the arc becomes greater,until the energy of the shunt-coil c is sufficient to draw theconicalpointed core P downward, thus releasing the escapement, and thepositive carbon descends until the proper length of arc is restored.This action is repeated as often as the action of the arc makes itnecessary for the positive carbon to descend to make up for the loss inthe carbon points.

Having fully described my invention so descend, and the negative carbondrawn downward by solenoid-magnet B and iron core R 3 5 in the main orare circuit, as specified.

\VILLTAM L. SILVEY.

Witnesses:

CHARLES T. SEIFERT, RALPH C. WA N

